If you've been affected by a hoarding situation, you'll know exactly how frustrating, distressing and challenging it can be.
As with any other mental disorder, you need patience and sensitivity when dealing with a hoarder, but the aftermath can leave you feeling overwhelmed. Cleaning up a house full of extreme clutter is no joke!
We're familiar with this scenario at Clean Team Scotland as our professional cleaning service includes hoarder house cleaning. Clients usually contact us when they can't handle the problem themselves, which is often the case. Whether a small space or an entire house has been affected by the excessive accumulation of clutter, the results are typically unpleasant and the cleanup involves a lot of hard work.
But if you're going to get help from a professional cleaning service, you need to know how much it's going to cost you.
So, here's Clean Team Scotland's handy guide to hoarder cleaning costs. We'll examine all of the different factors that might influence the cost of cleaning a hoarder house to help you get an idea of what you might expect to pay.
Before we dive into the cost of cleaning a hoarder's home, it's important to establish a few facts about this tragic condition.
Compulsive hoarding can affect almost anyone, but it usually develops in those who have experienced physical or emotional trauma. It's a recognised mental illness, sometimes called Plyushkin's disorder, and it expresses itself through an obsession with keeping unnecessary items.
People who suffer from this disorder tend to hang on to all kinds of objects we'd usually discard, give away, recycle or sell, such as newspapers, magazines, clothes, books, electrical goods, tickets, receipts, etc.
Eventually, space becomes littered as excessive clutter takes over the property. Stacks of items often reach ceiling height and become a hazard. Rooms, hallways, doors and windows become blocked, making the home inaccessible and adding to the danger. The risk of a house fire is increased due to the amount of paper present, especially in a kitchen area.
In severe cases, accumulated food waste becomes a serious issue, attracting rodents and other pests. Mould, mildew, damp, dead animals and even bodily fluids are common in a hoarder's house, making the task of cleaning up a real challenge.
Cleaning a hoarder house requires careful planning and sensitivity, especially if the affected person is involved in the process. They will be vulnerable and will need the support of loved ones and family members, if possible. Ideally, they should have access to a mental health professional.
It's important to keep all of these factors in mind when considering the cost of cleaning a hoarder's house.
As we've noticed during the course of our work, every hoarding situation is different and must be handled according to the specific conditions. This means that the cost will vary based on several factors.
We'll check out the main ones here to give you a general idea of the costs...
The bigger the house, the higher the cost - as you must have guessed.
This is common sense, as more effort is required to clean a large house than a one-bedroom apartment or flat. The cleaning team will use more materials and spend longer on the project, resulting in higher labour costs.
We need to know how bad the situation is before estimating the cost of cleaning. That is, we need to know what type of items have been stored on the premises and whether any hazardous materials are present. We also need to establish the volume of materials involved, as in extreme cases we have removed several tons of clutter!
Properties affected by hoarding can suffer from structural damage, which adds to the dangers involved as well as the overall cost.
A hoarder's house will usually need redecorating at the very least. In many cases, repairs are necessary and these can significantly add to the cost, particularly if the house is badly damaged.
In serious hoarder situations, the additional weight of accumulated clutter can put tremendous stress on walls and floors. Plasterboard can be easily damaged (and easily repaired), but structural damage to supporting walls and beams is another matter.
The location of the property can affect the cost of cleaning if it is situated off the beaten track and with limited access. This adds to the travelling time and amount of work required, so the cost may be higher as a result.
Different cleaning companies have their own range of services and may use different methods.
However, using our own experts at Clean Team Scotland as an example, we can suggest a basic outline of what you'll get for your money...
Check this out "How to start cleaning a hoarder’s room"
The property will be inspected to assess the risk and help form a customised cleaning plan. All cleaners on site will be instructed as to the work involved. They will be expected to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and should ideally be trained to deal with hoarder cleaning.
The cleaning team will get to work removing the hoarded items as safely as possible. These will be separated into various groups, such as:
This process can be time-consuming, especially if there's a large volume of hoarded items to sort out.
Furniture will be removed and stored if necessary while the cleaning process takes place.
The team will use industrial-grade equipment such as heavy-duty vacuums, steam cleaners, and scrubbers to remove embedded dirt from floors, walls, and surfaces. Special attention is given to sanitising kitchens and bathrooms, where bacteria and mould are often prevalent, using powerful, eco-friendly disinfectants.
Airborne contaminants are tackled with air purifiers and ventilation to ensure improved air quality. Upholstery, carpets, and soft furnishings are steam-cleaned or removed if irreparably damaged. The process also involves addressing pest infestations and biohazards with appropriate safety protocols, leaving the home hygienic and refreshed.
Any lingering odours will be eliminated using specialist equipment and methods, such as Biosweep.
If required, the cleaning company will arrange for your interior to be repaired and redecorated.
The cost will depend on the amount of damage - in cases of structural instability, major building work will be required, and this can be costly. Any redecoration is not likely to be extensive and will usually be limited to painting, wallpapering, etc. This won't be a major makeover, just a coat of paint to get the space looking fresh and clean again.
Certain companies provide ongoing cleaning or maintenance services to ensure the space remains tidy and manageable over time, reducing the likelihood of hoarding returning.
We're sometimes asked whether it's a good idea to sell hoarder homes before having them cleaned, as this will avoid the cost of cleaning.
In our view, it's generally worth investing in cleaning as this will maximise the value of your property and attract potential buyers.
If you decide not to invest in hoarder house cleaning, you're likely to attract property investors and cash buyers looking for a bargain. The chances are, they'll force you to take a lower price as the house is in bad condition.
Our advice is to get in touch with Clean Team Scotland and we'll talk you through the pros and cons.
Now we're a bit clearer about what hoarder cleaning involves, we can suggest an average cost.
Remember; this is more than a simple house clearance service! Basic house clearance costs rarely (if ever) include cleaning. Companies like Clean Team Scotland don't just clear the clutter, they also deep clean, sanitise and restore the house to a safe and habitable condition.
So, with this in mind, let's look at the figures:
The average cost of cleaning a hoarder house is somewhere between £3,500 and £4,000 in the UK.
However, the minimum cost is likely to be around £2,000 and the maximum can go as high as £25,000, maybe more in extreme cases. The upper end of the scale relates to larger premises with an extreme amount of clutter (including hazardous materials) and structural instability.
As you can see, the cost of cleaning a hoarder's house is not insignificant. However, it reflects the amount of work involved in getting the space clean, safe and habitable.
When you need a hoarder cleaning service you can trust to provide a fair and sensible price, contact Clean Team Scotland.
